Committee on Special Education Seeks Improvements

 In direct response to demands made by the P.E.A.'s Committee on Special Education (COSE) on the current administration to address the district's persistent violations in special education, the Department of Pupil Personnel Services has taken steps to provide child study teams and special education teachers with:

(1) IEP training;

(2) copies of the most current Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) booklets for parents; and

(3) a Procedural Manual for Special Education-First Draft

These items were top priorities of C.O.S.E. last year and the topic of various letters of concern written to the district by the P.E.A. The Association exercised its rights under the Open Public Records Act (O.P.R.A.) and submitted O.P.R.A. requests for information regarding the targeted violations after the Glascoe/Rush administration's Department of Pupil Personnel Services ignored all P.E.A. communications requesting a meeting to address staff concerns.

Despite this first positive response, COSE co-chairs Debbie Patsel (#7) and Carol Amato (STARS) admit "our work is far from over." "C.O.S.E intends to keep up its advocacy efforts with the support and continued efforts of staff members on the front lines throughout the district to continue "quality control" in special education.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE for our Paterson students, their parents, teachers and assistants through our new "Special Education Advocacy Network." COSE is seeking one staff member per school or facility to act as a contact person to the COSE chairs.

In the meantime, the COSE "Information Form" can be used by staff to record concerns. A sample is posted on the P.E.A. Website. In addition, an advocacy training session will be offered to contact people in January.

Interested staff members should contact C.O.S.E. co-chairs, Debbie Patsel and Carol Amato at cosepea@yahoo.com or send a note to them at the P.E.A. office to become a contact person.